When Kendrick Perkins was in the NBA, he spent parts of five total season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For part of that team, he was teamed up with a young Steven Adams.
Perkins was acquired by the Thunder from the Boston Celtics during the 2011 trade deadline. He played for Oklahoma City until 2015, at which point he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
From 2013-15, he was the veteran big on a team that had just drafted Adams.
Perkins started all 62 games he played in 2013-14 while Adams started the other 20. Perkins took the starting job back at the end of the season and for the playoffs, but Adams earned it going into his second season, starting in 67 of the 70 games he appeared in.
Adams wouldn’t give up the starting role again, anchoring Oklahoma City at center through 2020. The Big Kiwi was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, according to reports late Friday night.
Perkins knows the Pelicans got a good player in return.
The Pelicans landing Steven Adams is a GREAT pick up!!! I see you shining Griff. Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 21, 2020
The Pelicans will use him to replace Derrick Favors, who signed with the Utah Jazz. New Orleans will role out a frontcourt of Adams, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, which has defensive and scoring upside along with toughness.
In return, the Thunder acquired George Hill, Darius Miller, a protected 2023 Denver first-round pick, a 2023 Charlotte Hornets second-round pick and a 2024 Washington Wizards second-round pick.
